Real Madrid make contact with Antonio Conte – reports

Real Madrid contacted Antonio Conte this week as the Italian is their first choice to replace Julen Lopetegui if he fails to turn his side’s fortunes around, according to reports in his native Italy.

The club’s directors have held initial talks with Conte to see if the former Chelsea boss would be keen on taking over the reins.

Italian publication Corriere dello Sport suggest current Real Madrid boss Lopetegui has just three games to save his job after a topsy-turvy start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Lopetegui will reportedly be sacked if Real Madrid fail to get a decent result against Barcelona in El Clasico in ten days’ time at the Nou Camp.

Just two points separate the top six teams in La Liga, with the four title favourites all working their way through sluggish starts to the campaign, but Madrid’s struggles are the most pronounced.

Lopetegui’s side have not won since they beat Espanyol in September, going on a run of four games without scoring – the first time since 1985 – as they fell to defeats at Sevilla, CSKA Moscow and Alaves.

Conte has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea after two years at the helm of the London club where he won the Premier League and FA Cup.